Trump prepared to 'unleash hell' if Iran doesn't make deal, White House warns, amid questions on status of talks
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt offered little new insight into the status of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, but warned on Wednesday that President Donald Trump is prepared to "unleash hell" if Tehran balks at making a deal to end the war.
"The president's preference is always peace. There does not need to be any more death and destruction," Leavitt told reporters at a press briefing.
"But if Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment, if they fail to understand that they have been defeated militarily and will continue to be, President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before," she continued. "President Trump does not bluff, and he is prepared to unleash hell. Iran should not miscalculate again."
The Trump administration sent a 15-point peace plan to Iran by way of Pakistan, sources told ABC News. Iran's Press TV quoted an official saying Iran rejects the U.S. proposal, and officials in Tehran have publicly denied any talks have taken place.
Leavitt insisted on Wednesday that negotiations were ongoing and characterized them as "productive" -- though she dodged questions from reporters seeking more specifics on what's being discussed, who is leading them for Iran and whether negotiators would soon meet in person.
When asked if talks have hit a dead end, Leavitt firmly pushed back: "They have not."
Trump on Monday announced he was postponing major attacks he'd threatened on Tehran's energy infrastructure for five days -- until Friday -- because of what he also called new "productive" talks with Iran.
"The remaining elements of the Iranian regime have another opportunity to cooperate with President Trump, permanently abandoned their nuclear ambitions, and cease actively threatening America and our allies," Leavitt said.
Both Pakistan and Egypt have offered to host talks to facilitate an end to the conflict. A Pakistani official previously told ABC News an in-person meeting in Islamabad was on the table, though nothing was final.
"I've seen a lot of speculation and reporting about potential talks that could happen later this week. Nothing should be deemed official until it is announced formally by the White House," Leavitt said.
Trump on Tuesday revealed he, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are involved in the talks -- along with Steve Witkoff, White House special envoy, and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law.
When asked about Vance's role, Leavitt said he's a "key member" of the administration's national security team and has "been by the president's side every step of the way."
Leavitt also sidestepped questions about the "very big present" that President Trump said Iran gifted the U.S. on Tuesday. Trump did not reveal what the gift was, but said it was related to oil and the flow through the critical Strait of Hormuz.
Asked if the gift was a ship carrying 2 million barrels of oil that successfully made its way through the strait on Tuesday, Leavitt did not confirm or deny, instead responding: "I’ll let the president speak on that at the appropriate time."
Trump on Tuesday had said the gift from Iran signaled to him the U.S. is "dealing with the right people" and that Tehran was "going to make a deal."
The president also said regime change in Iran had been achieved, as many of its senior leaders have been killed in U.S. and Israeli strikes.
Leavitt was asked on Wednesday if the administration was satisfied with the new leaders currently in place in Iran.
"I think it's too soon to say," she responded.
While the administration seeks a potential diplomatic offramp to the conflict, the U.S. is continuing to send thousands more U.S. Marines to the Middle East, and the Pentagon is seeking $200 billion in supplemental funding.
When asked about plans to deploy part of the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, Leavitt deferred to the Pentagon but said "the president likes to maintain options at his disposal."
Leavitt repeated the administration's initial four-to-six-week timeline for the military operation, and said the U.S. is ahead of schedule.
"We are very close to meeting the core objectives of Operation Epic Fury, and this military mission continues unabated," she said.
